Box Score

Springfield, Mass. – The American International College baseball team dropped a 7-6 decision to Merrimack in a 10 inning Northeast-10 match-up at AIC Park Thursday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets rallied for four runs in the ninth to tie the game, but were unable to comeback in the 10th to stay alive. The loss dropped AIC to 6-27 overall and 4-17 in the NE-10, while the Warriors improved to 15-20 overall and 6-14 in the conference.

The Yellow Jacket comeback was ignited by a lead-off single to right field by sophomore shortstop #Dan Mooney# (Bennington, Vt.). Base hits by senior center fielder #Dan Fey# (Plymouth, Mass.) and sophomore designated hitter #Dillon Fontaine# (Amenia, N.Y.) kept the inning alive and scored Mooney. Senior #Mike Massery# (Pittsfield, Mass.) pinch-hit and reached on an error that plated two AIC runs. Sophomore catcher #Anthony Arrichiello# (Yonkers, N.Y.) drove in the game tying run with a single up the middle.

In the top of the 10th, senior left fielder Mike Coppinger (Medway, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Two batters later he came around to score the go-ahead run on a base hit to right by freshman catcher Ray Walker (Lowell, Mass.).

Arrichiello finished the day batting 4-5 from the plate with one RBI, while Mooney went 3-4 with a run scored. Senior first baseman #Kevin Farrell# hit his sixth homerun of the season.

Junior Dylan Ellis (Gloucester, Mass.) started for Merrimack and gave up five runs, three earned, and struck out nine in 8.1 innings. Classmate Ryan McNeil (Lynnfield, Mass.) earned the win with 1.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. Sophomore #Sean Stevenson# (Holyoke, Mass.) pitched seven innings for AIC and gave up five runs, two earned, and struck out six. Classmate #John Scanlan# (Glastonbury, Conn.) took the loss after allowing one unearned run in 1.1 innings.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Saturday with a doubleheader at Saint Anselm at 12 p.m.